Cluster, Glass, and Gel Formation and Viscoelastic Phase Separation in Aqueous Clay Suspensions

Shalkevich, Andrey; Stradner, Anna; Bhat, Suresh; Muller, François; Schurtenberger, Peter

doi:10.1021/la062996i

Cited by 110 publications

(107 citation statements)

References 72 publications

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“…The above concepts are similar to those put forward by Shalkevich et al 32 for dynamical arrest and cluster formation in pure clay dispersions following neutron, X-ray and light scattering studies. Their model for cluster and gel formation could be extended to include particle mixtures and heteroaggregation phenomena, in line with the above arguments.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 73%

Rheology modification in mixed shape colloidal dispersions. Part II: mixtures

et al. 2008

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We report the results of a comprehensive study of the rheological properties of a series of mixed colloid systems where the shape of one of the components has been varied systematically. Specifically we have measured the oscillatory, transient (creep) and continuous steady shear flow behaviour of a 2.5 wt% dispersion in water of a well-characterised hectorite clay modified by the addition of a series of aluminasol colloidal particles whose shape varies systematically from rod (boehmite) to platelet (gibbsite) to sphere (alumina-coated silica), all having essentially the same smallest dimension, which is similar to that of the hectorite. The particle characterisation and rheological properties of the pure components have recently been reported in Part I of this series (Soft Matter, 2007, 3, 1145. The mixtures show the same general behaviour as the pure systems, displaying a complex 'yield space' transition from an elastoviscous gel at low applied stresses to a viscous, weakly elastic, shear-thinning liquid at high stresses. The unifying theme of this work is that the addition of 0.25 wt% of the minor component in all cases results in dramatic enhancements to the dispersion rheological properties. At the same time the magnitude of this effect depends on the shape of the particles. Shear moduli, low stress viscosities and effective yield stresses all increase in the additive order rods , platelets , spheres, with enhancements for the latter being up to a factor of 500 and typically 20. At the same time the critical failure strains for the gels decreased in the same order -the strongest gels are also the most fragile in this sense. The physicochemical factors underlying this behaviour are discussed and a simple qualitative model described. While no complete explanation or model can be proposed at this stage, the study provides a quantitative model-system baseline for mixed colloidal dispersions already used for industrial applications (e.g. oilwell-drilling fluids) and suggests ways in which such fluids may be optimised and controlled.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 73%

Rheology modification in mixed shape colloidal dispersions. Part II: mixtures

et al. 2008

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“…In addition to their vast potential applications, their anisotropic shape and complex interactions considerably enrich their phase diagram 6,[15][16][17] and make them suitable candidates for self-assembly 18 . Among these, Laponite suspensions, widely used in cosmetics, oil industry, paints, have emerged as intriguing systems with peculiar aging dynamics and unexpected phase behaviour [19][20][21][22][23] .…”

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confidence: 99%

Glass–glass transition during aging of a colloidal clay

et al. 2014

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Colloidal suspensions are characterized by a variety of microscopic interactions, which generate unconventional phase diagrams encompassing fluid, gel and glassy states and offer the possibility to study new phase and/or state transitions. Among these, glass-glass transitions are rare to be found, especially at ambient conditions. Here, through a combination of dilution experiments, X-ray photon correlation spectroscopy, small angle X-ray scattering, rheological measurements and Monte Carlo simulations, we provide evidence of a spontaneous glass-glass transition in a colloidal clay. Two different glassy states are distinguished with evolving waiting time: a first one, dominated by long-range screened Coulombic repulsion (Wigner glass) and a second one, stabilized by orientational attractions (Disconnected House of Cards glass), occurring after a much longer time. These findings may have implications for heterogeneously charged systems out-of-equilibrium and for applications where a fine control of the local order and/or long term stability of the amorphous materials are required.

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“…The stable cluster formation was also observed in aqueous suspensions of inorganic particles: of iron oxyhydroxide [10], sodium cloisite clay [11], and crystalline quartz [12] as well as in aqueous suspensions of influenza viruses [13].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 76%

“…Note, that clusters observed in [3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13] are very stable structures, as they did not show any noticeable growth during long periods of observation (from hundreds of hours to months).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 95%